should, and that, when the war is over, they will not be ashamed of me, as they must be now'. God help' me; it is very hard to bear! Good-by', father! God seems near and dear to me, as if he felt sorry for his poor, broken-hearted child, and would take me to be with him' -in a better', BETTER' life. "To-night I shall see the cows' all coming home from pasture', and precious little Blossom' standing on the back stoop, waiting for me; but-I-SHALL NEVER NEVER-COME'! God BLESS you all! Forgive your poor BENNIE." PART II. Late that night a little figure glided down the footpath toward the Mill Depot'. The conductor, as he reached down to lift her into the car, wondered' at the tear-stained face that was upturned toward the dim lantern' he held in his hand. A few questions and ready answers told him all'; and no father' could have cared more tenderly for his only child', than he for our little Blossom. She was on her way to Washington', to ask President Lincoln' for her brother's life. She had brought Bennie's letter' with her; no good, kind heart, like the President's, could refuse to be melted' by it. The next morning they reached New York, and the conductor hurried her on to Washington'. Every minute', now, might be the means of saving' her brother's life'. The President had but just seated himself to his evening's task, when the door softly opened, and Blossom', with downcast eyes and folded hands, stood before him. "Well', my child'," he said, in his pleasant, cheerful tones, "what do you want?" "Bennie's LIFE', p-l-e-a-s-e', sir," faltered Blossom. My brother', sir. They are going to shoot him for sleeping' at his post`." "Oh, yes'; I remember. It was a FATAL' sleep. You see, child, it was a time of special danger'. THOUSANDS' of lives might have been lost by HIS negligence'." "So my father said,” replied Blossom, gravely. "But poor- Bennie was 8-o-T-I-R-E-D', sir, and Jimmie so weak'. He did the work of two`, sir, and it was Jimmie's' night, not his; but Jimmie was too tired, and Bennie never thought about himself", that HE' was tired too'." "What is this you say', child? Come here'; I do not understand." And the kind man, as ever, caught eagerly at what seemed to be a justification' of an offense. Blossom went to him. He put his hand tenderly on her shoulder, and turned up the pale, anxious face toward his'. How tall he seemed! And he was President of the United States', too! A dim thought of this kind passed for a moment through Blossom's mind; but she told her simple, straightforward story', and handed Bennie's letter' to Mr. Lincoln to read. He read it carefully; then, taking up his pen, wrote a few hasty lines and rang his bell. Blossom heard this order' given: "Send THIS dispatch at ONCE." The President then turned to the girl, and said: "Go home', my child, and tell that father' of yours, who could approve his country's sentence, even when it took the life of a child like THAT, that Abraham Lincoln thinks the life far too PRECIOUS' to be lost. Go back', or-wait until tomorrow'; Bennie' will need a change after he has so bravely faced death'; he shall go with you." "God BLESS' you, sir!" said Blossom. Two days after this interview, the young soldier' came to the White House with his little sister'. He was called into the President's private room, and a strap' fastened upon his shoulder. Mr. Lincoln then said: "The soldier that could carry a sick comrade's baggage, and die' for the act so uncomplainingly, DESERVES WELL of his country.” Then Bennie and Blossom took their way to their Green - Mountain - home'. A crowd gathered at the Mill Depot to welcome them back; and, as Farmer Owen's hand grasped that of his boy, TEARS' flowed down his cheeks, and he was heard to say fervently, “THE LORD' BE PRAISED!" Mrs. R. D. C. Robbins. LXIII. THE TALENTS. 1. The kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one: to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 2. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 3. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had re ceived five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. 4. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 5. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed: and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, there thou hast that is thine. 6. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 7. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew, Chapter XXV. FOR PREPARATION.-I. How much, in our money, is the value of the talent as used in Judea in the time of Christ? ($1,645 to $1,916.) Our word "talent," as meaning mental endowment, is derived from the figurative application made in this parable. All words relating to the mind, or to what is spiritual, are derived by the same process from words used first for material things. II. Gnash'-ing (năsh'-), straight'-way (strāt'-), joûr'-ney, brôught (brawt), a fraid', ăn'-swered (-serd). III. Likewise (wise meaning manner, or guise, in this word, as also in otherwise and lengthwise). "Sown" and "strewed "—what two ways of indicating past time or completed action, illustrated in these words? Note the use of "which" (5 and 6), referring to "him" and "he." What word do we use to refer to persons? (who.) Note also the use of "that" ("thou hast that is thine"). (The style of the Bible is that of good English of the time of the settlement of this country by the English-1600 to 1630.) Make a list of expressions that are no longer used-e. g., "unto one," "straightway took," "he that" for "he who," "other two," "cometh" (eth = s, denoting present time and continued action), "thou deliveredst" (st to agree with thou), "behold," "thee," "mine own," "an hard," etc. IV. Slothful, unprofitable. V. What figure of speech is used in the parable? (The allegory is a continued metaphor, wherein imaginary events are told as though they were realities, but with the unexpressed intention that a figurative application shall be made of them. The parable is a continued simile, the figurative application being expressly stated: "The kingdom of heaven is as [like] a man traveling," etc.) Do faculties of the mind-memory, attention, power of thought-all increase by frequent use? Does one's character improve by repetition of good acts? Can we all increase the talents "9 we have, by making good use of them? LXIV.-SOLDIER, REST! 1. Soldier, rest! Thy warfare o'er, Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking; Dream of battled fields no more, Days of danger, nights of waking. |
